What are the responsibilities and job description for the Vice President of Residential Treatment & Emergency Shelter position at Home of the Innocents?
Who We Are Seeking
We are seeking an exceptional leader who brings ingenuity, compassion, and a solution-focused mindset to lead our Residential and Emergency Shelter programs. The ideal candidate will bring deep experience in residential treatment or adolescent behavioral healthcare, along with the ingenuity to navigate complex challenges and develop thoughtful, sustainable solutions.
A Day in the Life
As Vice President of Residential Treatment & Emergency Shelter, you will provide strategic and operational leadership for programs serving children and youth with complex behavioral and emotional needs. You will lead through a trauma-informed lens, ensuring safety, accountability, and consistency are embedded throughout program operations and the environments we create for both the children we serve and the team members who support them.
You will work closely with program leaders to strengthen services, solve complex challenges, develop high-performing teams, and ensure team members have the clarity, resources, and support needed to provide exceptional care. You will provide oversight of internal policies and procedures while ensuring programs meet external regulatory, licensing, accreditation, and contractual requirements.
Through thoughtful leadership, strong partnerships, and a commitment to continuous improvement, you will help create an environment where team members can succeed and children can experience safety, stability, and meaningful progress.
How This Position Contributes to Our Mission
- Lead the Residential Treatment & Emergency Shelter program, overseeing program development, operations, and evaluation to achieve quality outcomes, operational efficiency, regulatory compliance, and alignment with organizational goals and program best practices.
- Use program data and outcomes to evaluate effectiveness, identify opportunities, and drive meaningful continuous improvement.
- Bring to life organizational and program strategies to ensure operational success.
- Collaborate across the organization to solve complex challenges, strengthen infrastructure, and advance strategic and operational priorities.
- Ensure coordination between programmatic layers to create positive programmatic and therapeutic outcomes.
- Maintain compliance with licensing, accreditation, contractual, and regulatory requirements, including serving as Executive Director for the organization's Private Child Caring state license.
Skills & Qualifications
- Master's degree in human services, such as Psychology, Nursing, Social Work, Counseling, or related discipline, is required.
- At least three years of leadership experience within a residential treatment facility or similar adolescent-focused behavioral healthcare setting.
- Clinical experience and independent professional licensure in Kentucky, such as LCSW, LMFT, or LPCC, is strongly preferred.
- Experience working with children and family services, including recovery-based treatment plans and trauma-informed, behaviorally oriented programs.
- Exceptional leadership skills with the ability to inspire, develop, motivate, and hold accountable a diverse team.
- Ingenuity and a solution-focused approach to complex operational, clinical, and systemic challenges.
- Strong crisis intervention and de-escalation skills, sound judgment, and knowledge of applicable reporting laws.
- Thorough understanding of applicable regulations and a strong commitment to confidentiality, compliance, and professional standards.
What You'll Receive as a Valued Member of Home of the Innocents
- Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance
- 5 Weeks Paid Leave (Personal, Sick, and Holiday accrual)
- 401(k) with employer match
- Tuition reimbursement and professional development opportunities
- Mission-driven, trauma-informed culture focused on collaboration and compassion
Who We Are
Home of the Innocents is one of Louisville's longest-serving nonprofit organizations, approaching 150 years of service to children and families. Our mission is simple and clear: to enrich lives with hope, health, and happiness.
We are a trauma-informed organization that prioritizes safety, healing, and meaningful relationships. Our team is committed to creating an environment grounded in Excellence, Wellness, Empowerment, and Compassion.
As we continue expanding our services and campus, including the growth of the Kosair for Kids Complex Care Center, we're investing in the future of care for children, youth, and young adults across Kentucky.
Our Impact
- 3,976 children and families served in 2025
- 22-acre campus near downtown Louisville
- 10 programs supporting children and families across a range of needs
- Therapeutic and residential treatment for youth with behavioral and emotional needs
- Emergency shelter for children in crisis
- Foster care and adoption support
- Community-based behavioral health services
- Kosair for Kids Complex Care Center (KCC): Kentucky's only pediatric skilled nursing facility providing residential and respite care for children and young adults with complex medical needs